Former leading New Zealand publisher and bookseller, and widely experienced judge of both the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Montana New Zealand Book Awards, talks about what he is currently reading, what impresses him and what doesn't, along with chat about the international English language book scene, and links to sites of interest to booklovers.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Exciting changes for New Zealand Books Awards for Children and Young Adults

Better exposure for New Zealand authors is the vision
behind changes being made this week to some of the format of the New Zealand Book
Awards for Children and Young Adults.

The visits of finalist authors to a range of schools and
libraries across New Zealand is being replaced by three high profile events
attended by large numbers of children, ensuring that more children will meet
New Zealand writers.

The finalist books are being integrated into the highly
successful HELL Reading Challenge, in which children receive a Hell pizza for every
pizza wheel they complete by reading seven books. In 2016, 200,000 wheels were circulated
to schools and libraries, and the target for 2017 is to increase this to
250,000, which will mean more than 1.5 million books being read by young Kiwis
as a result of the challenge. Incentives will be offered for reading the crop
of 30 awards finalists.

The number of awards’ booklets in circulation promoting
the finalists will also be increased substantially. 26,000 copies will again go
out in the Listener magazine with many thousands more going to bookstores and
libraries across New Zealand.

Finally, new point of sale material will drive engagement
by children, parents and librarians.

As part of these changes the Children’s Choice awards
will be discontinued as a result of the complexity of its operation and falling
participation by schools.

“The Trust is very confident that the changes it is
making will be of benefit to authors, their publishers and to young readers,”
says Trust chair Nicola Legat. “The Trust has been working hard to make sure
these awards support and honour New Zealand literature for children and young
adults. We have improved the judging process, are giving away $55,000 in prize
money, and the added exposure will deliver increased sales and audience
engagement”.

More than 150 entries have been received for the 2017
awards. This year’s shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 7 June and the
awards event will be held in Wellington on Monday 14 August.